Which Wolf Are You Feeding?
I wrote this note to my Insider’s Club last week. After so many requests for a copy, I decided to blog it here.
Love to hear your thoughts and comments
| I have been hesitant about adding yet another message to your inbox. Mine certainly seems to be full of the obligatory messages about how businesses are handling the COVID-19 virus and, quite frankly, it feels exhausting.
There is a real fear online that our economy is headed for the biggest recession ever as a direct fallout from the measures being taken to flatten the spread. All consuming fear often presents in undesirable ways. So many folks struggling to bring some sort of order to a world that feels like its spinning out of control. In fear, we lose ourselves. I noticed this phenomenon during my days in law enforcement. Today, we see it manifesting in the pushing and shoving and significant hoarding. It is as if we have lost our focus and are being led to blindly react to the unseen terror that fills our mind. Fear is being triggered every day in such unsettling ways. Reminiscent of the dark days of 9-11. Today, it’s all about the virus with a name. The truth is that every time you give something a name it becomes easier to be afraid of it. It takes on an identity. Add to that understanding that the story that launches first is the one that we tend to believe in the strongest. It’s literally hypnotic messaging. Fear is a REAL MIND VIRUS (a meme) that carries very real damages with it. Of course not everyone is experiencing this dangerous Fear virus. Some are acting pragmatically. Some are shopping with restraint. Some are focused on building community support for friends, family and neighbors. A friend stopped in yesterday with a meal recipe that uses very few ingredients and none of the ones currently being consumed at alarming rates in super markets. At the market last night, I found many people shopping in an orderly manner – telling jokes – and being quite polite to fatigued staff and other patrons. Perhaps the stability we have been searching for is found off of social media and outside the daily news bulletins? All this frantic energy reminded me of an old parable that I wanted to share with you today. A grandfather tells his grandson that there is a battle going on everyday all around us. It is a battle between the two wolves that live within us. He says, “My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ that live inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.” The grandson thinks about it for a while and says, “Which wolf wins?” The grandfather replies, “The one you feed”. The story of the two wolves teaches us that our future, our destiny is in our control. It’s up to us to feed our courage, it is up to us to feed our mind everything it needs to achieve contentment in life. Yes, there is a virus circulating the globe right now. And some people will get very ill. And, many will not. The real danger is in the FEAR virus. So how do we stop it from contaminating our minds and our day to day actions? There is a guardian in your mind. The sentry at the door. This protector has an ax and a shield and fends off everyone and everything. The Protector doesn’t want ANYONE entering; and works very hard to keep everyone out. In fact, it extends beyond “people” to the little smoke that floats in the air…the cloud that works its way up over The Protector’s head. But here The Protector isn’t able to do The Protector’s job because the message is entering in a way that The Protector doesn’t know to stop…whether the message is seen…or not seen…it is just like a cloud that goes by, beyond critical thinking into the recesses of …Yes… And that… is… hypnosis. Positive suggestions bypassing fear responses. Think about the last time The Protector said to you, “There is something about it/him/her I don’t like….” That’s where The Protector has a “feeling” about the likely enemy…it’s a reaction… And then there is the “I don’t like him/her/it because…” which is resistance (intellectual level, “I don’t like it because…”). So here it is…if someone can put a finger on WHAT they are uncomfortable about, they can influence a different thought. Today I encourage you to pause and think about all the good that IS happening. The researchers who are relentlessly pursuing a cure. The medical teams who are tirelessly working to keep you safe and healthy. The friends who have made it home from their travels. The food that is still available to you. The gratitude for a time of imposed introspection. The knowledge that businesses that have been built in the face of crisis so many times in the past. It is time to disengage from the fear wolf, breathe deeply and focus on intentionally feeding your courage wolf.
It might feel like events are happening wholly out of control, and perhaps they are – at least somewhat. This time of uncertainty will pass. For me, my speaking engagements have been cancelled. However, my coaching and hypnosis practice is still open for business. I am here to help, and …. I am online! PS: I am using this quiet time to complete book 7 in the Colbie Colleen Cozy Suspense Series. Watch for it in the coming weeks. Yes, I am taking pre-orders now. The Scent of Unfinished Business (a great title for where we are in our lives right now). How will you spend your time?
And I added a free hypnosis download to the store…How to Stop Touching Your Face. |
